Check for picker sticks



' y 1953 c. w. FRANKLIN EIAL 6,08

CHECK FOR PICKER STICKS Filed April 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS GJQ SQ Tfcolvard MTTORNEY y 1953 c. w. FRANKLIN EI'AL 2,646,082

. I CHECK FOR PICKER STICKS Filed April 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented July 21, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHECK FOR PICKER STICKS Clarence W. Franklin, Clarkesville, and Jesse T. Colvard, Mount Airy, Ga.

Application April 15, 1952, Serial No. 282,432

6 Claims.

check the movement of the picker stick, as it I approaches the inner and outer ends of its stroke.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picker stick check which may be accurately adjusted to apply the desired degree of frictional engagement with the picker stick. 1

A further object is to provide a picker stick check of the above-mentioned character which may be applied to a loom, such as an automatic weft replenishing loom, without materially changing the construction of the loom.

Another object is to provide a picker stick check comprising bodily demountable units arranged in pairs, the units being adapted to be assembled before they are mounted upon the lay of the loom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a picker stick check of the above-mentioned character which is sturdy and durable, reliable and efiicient in operation, and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is a side elevation of a loom lay having the picker stick checks embodying our invention applied thereto and showing the picker sticks, parts broken away and parts omitted, V Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1, and drawn on an enlarged scale, parts broken away,

Figure 3 is a further side elevation of our picker stick checks in place upon the loom and drawn on an enlarged scale, parts broken away,

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section on line 4-4 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a similar section on line 5--5 of Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a greatly enlarged horizontal section on line 6-4? of Figure 4,

Figure 7 is a similar section on line 1-1 of Figure 4,

Figure 8 is a greatly enlarged horizontal section on line 8-8 .of Figure 3,

' Figure 9 is a view'similar to Figure 6 and showing a modified form of our picker stick checks,

--Figure -10 isan endelevation of the modified 2 form of picker stick check shown in Figure 9, and,

' Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary horizontal cross'section on line ll-H of Figure 10.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration are shown preferred embodiments of our invention, attention is directed first to Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, where the numeral I5 designates the lay of a loom as shown in United States Pat-.

ent 2,459,411. The left hand end of the lay I5 is provided with the usual longitudinal slot [6; for one picker stick l1, and the right hand endi 0f the'lay is cut away at I8, to provide a slot; or passage for the other picker stick l9. Mount-- ed upon the reduced end of the layer l5, and rig-- idly secured thereto is a lay end 20, defining the.-

outer extremity of the passage or slot for the picker stick l9. The numeral 2| designates a bobbin guide support unit, which is bolted to the lay end 26. The bobbin guide support unit 21 covers a portion of one side of the slot or passage for the picker stick l9, as shown, and constitutes a guide for the picker stick. All of the construction thus far described is shown in Patent 2,459,411 and is conventional. Extending laterally from the bobbin guide support unit 21 is a bracket 22, and depending below the support unit, and rigidly secured thereto. When our picker stick check is applied to the right hand end of the lay I5, the lugs 24, picker stick check 26, and brackets 23 shown in Patent 2,459,411 are removed, the lugs being out 01f flush with the unit 2|.

We provide two picker stick checks arranged near the opposite ends of the lay l5. Each check comprises mounting elements or channels 23, arranged horizontally beneath the lay 15 near its ends, and rigidly secured thereto, as will be explained. The pair of channels 23 in each check are arranged in opposed spaced relation, with, their top and bottom horizountal flanges in-- wardly directed toward each other, Figure 4. Each mounting element or channel 23 is provided at its longitudinal center with a vertical pivot; element or bolt 24, rigidly secured thereto, and{ this bolt pivotally receives knuckles 25 and 26,.

formed integral with rigid horizontally swingable: leaves or plates 21. The leaves 21 taper toward their outer free ends, as shown, and the leaves are vertically disposed but capable of swinging horizontally, as stated.

It is thus seen that each picker stick check includes pairs of hinged leaves arranged in spaced opposed relation. The leaves 21 have their inner faces covered with fibrous material, 28, such as leather, fabric or the like, and secured thereto by any suitable means, such as by glueing, rivets or the like. Each picker stick operates between these pairs of leaves 2?, and the transverse pairs of leaves converge toward their free ends, so that the picker stick is brought into gradually increasing frictional engagement with the leaves as it approaches the inner and outer ends of its stroke.

Rigidly mounted upon each channel 23, upon opposite sides of the vertical pivot element 24, and spaced therefrom are posts 29, provided in their inner faces with notches 36, receiving and holding a leaf spring 3!. The posts 29 may be formed from sections of heavy bolts or the like, cut off and welded to the channels 23. The intermediate portion of the leaf spring 3i passes about the outer side of the knuckle 25, and the leaf spring is substantially equal in length to the combined lengths of a longitudinal pair of the leaves 2?. The opposite end portions of the leaf spring bear against the ends of the adjacent pair of leaves 2?, as shown. lhe ends of the leaf spring 3i pass slidably under guide loops 32, rigidly secured to the leaves 2?. The leaf spring Si is engaged in the notches 38, as previously stated and bears against the posts 29, and the outer ends ofthe leaf spring are biased or tensioned to swing the leaves 2'! inwardly toward the picker stick. The tension that the leaf spring applies to the leaves 2? is adjustable by means of screws 33 having screw threaded engagement with the posts iii, and lock in selected adjusted positions by lock nuts E i, the outer ends of the screws 33 being disposed outwardly of the channel 23, so as to be readily accessible with a. wrench or the like, Figures, 6 and 7.

The pairs of mounting elements or channels 23 are arranged beneath the ends of the lay it, as

stated, and, the pair of channels near the left hand end of the lay are-providednear their ends and in their tops with transverse slots 35, re-

ceiving vertical bolts 35, which extend through the lay it. Sleeves or spacers 3i surround the bolts: 3ft above the channels 23, and maintain the channels spaced below the lay it. the required distance. The bolts 3i; carry nuts 38 upon their lower ends, and in this manner the channels of the picker stick. check at the left hand end of the lay are secured. to. the lay, and are bodily adjustable laterally with respect thereto.

One mounting element, or channel 23 of the pair of channels adjacent to the right hand end of the lay has the same transverse slots 3'5 in its top, and is secured to the lay by the same bolts 35, having mounted thereon the same spacers 31. The companion channel 23 near the right hand end of the lay iii may also be identical with the other three channels and provided with the slots 35, but these are not employed for mounting this particular channel upon the lay. This last named channel 23 has an L-shaped bracket 39, rigidly secured thereto, and this bracket is in turn rigidly secured to the bracket 22 by means of a bolt :80, Figure 2'. The arrangement is such that all four of the channels 23 are at the same elevation, so thatthe' two picker sticks ii and i9 will undergo. the same checking or braking action. Except for the L-shaped bracket 39 on the one channel 23 at the right hand end of the lay,

the four units constituting the two picker stick checks are identical.

In connectionwi-ththe operation of each picker stick check, it will be seen that when the picker stick moves near the end of its stroke in either direction, itis brought into frictional engagement with the converging pairs of leaves which are springpressed inwardly, and these leaves cause the picker stick to be properly brought to rest. When the picker stick moves inwardly from the free ends of the leaves 27, it becomes spaced from the leaves and may move freely.

In Figures 9 to 11 inclusive, we have shown a modified form of picker stick check, and constituting a unit to be secured to the lay IS in the identical manner that the pair of units at the left hand end of the lay it in Figure 3 are secured thereto. The thus modified check unit comprises a mounting member or channel 3:, similar to the channels 23 but provided with longitudinal end extensions or wings 52, rigidly secured thereto. The channel ll is provided in its top with transverse slots like the slots 35, and receiving the same mounting bolts 36 which serve to secure the check unit to the lay i5. A vertical pivot element or bolt i identical with the element 24 is secured rigidly to the channel i! at the longitudinal center of the same, and a pair of horizontally swingable rigid leaves 45, substantially identical with the leaves 2'? have their inner ends hingedly secured to the vertical bolt 44 in the identical manner in which the leaves 27 are secured to the bolt 2 The leaves 45 have their working sides covered with leather, fabric or other fibrous material it, like the leaves 2?.

Instead of the leaf spring 3|, and associated elements, we employ compressible coil springs i! for urging the leaves =25 into frictional engagementt-iththe picker stick. These springs 4! are disposed between the end extensions 42 and outer end portions of the leaves 45, as shown, and the surround adjusting bolts 43 which en age in openings formed in the leaves and extensions d2, Figure 11. The opposite owls the springs d? are seated upon pilot sleeves or guides it, which surround the bolts and engage the leaves lli and extensions 42. The heads 56 of the bolts d8 are countersunk below the working surface of the fibrous material and the other ends of the bolts extend outwardly of the longitudinal extensions (i2 for the reception of adjusting and locking nuts 51 and By adjusting these nuts, the tension of the springs i'i can be regulated for adjusting the frictional engagement of the pivoted leaves 45 with the picker stick.

Although we have shown and described a single unit only of our modified picker stick check Figures 9 to 11 inclusive, it is to be understood that we contemplate employing a pair of units to make up the picker stick check at the left hand end of the lay !5. However, a single unit only such as the unit shown in Figure 9 may be employed as a picker stick check, and will serve satisfactorily to check the picker stick, the same engaging the spring pressed leaves 55 frictionally as it approaches the opposite ends of its stroke.

It is to be understood that the forms of our invention herewith'shown and described are to be taken as preferred examples of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, Without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a picker stick check, a unit to be secured to the lay and comprising a supporting channel arranged horizontally beneath the lay and provided in its top with transverse slots, the slots receiving boltswhich connect the unit with the ing generally longitudinally of the channel and having their inner ends pivotally secured to the channel near its longitudinal center so that the leaves are horizontally swingable toward and from the channel, the leaves being arranged at angles to the channel and extending beyond the inner side of the channel for frictional engagement with the picker stick, and adjustable resilient means connected with the leaves and channel and serving to urge the leaves into frictional engagement with the picker stick.

2. In a picker stick check, a unit to be secured to the lay and comprising a supporting channel arranged beneath the lay and having spaced transverse slots in its top to receive bolts which connect the unit with the lay, the unit being bodily adjustable transversely of the lay,

a vertical pivot clement secured to the channel near its longitudinal center, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element and extending generally'longitudinally of the channel and beyond the inner side of the same for frictional engagement with the picker stick,, the leaves being horizontally swingable aboutthe pivot element, posts secured to the channel on opposite sides of the pivot element and having screw threaded openings, a leaf spring engaging the outer sides of the leaves and bearing against the posts, and adjusting screws mounted within the screw threaded openings of -the posts and engaging the leaf spring to adjust the tension of the same. 7

3. In a picker stick check, a supporting chanopenings in its top to receive bolts which connect the channel to the lay, a vertical pivot element secured to the channel near its longitudinal center, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element for horiouter sides and leading into the notches, a leaf spring engaging the outer sides of the leaves and extending longitudinally. of the leaves throughout the major portions of their lengths, the intermediate portion of the leaf spring extending about said pivot element and engaging in said grooves of the posts, and adjusting screws mounted within the screw threaded openings of the posts and engaging the intermediate portion of the leaf spring to vary the tension of the same.

4. In a picker stick, a supporting channel arranged beneath the lay and having openings in itstop receiving bolts connecting the channel to the lay, a vertical pivot element secured to the 6 channel near its longitudinal center, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said element for horizontal swinging movement about the same and extending generally longitudinally of the channel and beyond the inner side of the same for frictional engagement with the picker stick, end longitudinal extensions secured to the channel and spaced laterally of the leaves and having transverse openings, adjusting bolts connected with the leaves and extending through the transverse openings of the end extensions and beyond the outer sides of the extensions, nuts mounted upon the adjusting end extensions and leaves.

bolts outwardly of the end extensions, and compressible coil springs surrounding the adjusting bolt and havingtheir ends bearing against the 5. In a picker stick check, a supporting member to be secured to the lay, an upstanding pivot element secured to the supporting member, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally secured to said pivot element and extending longitudinally of the supporting member and beyond the side of the same for frictional engagement with the picker stick, posts secured to the supporting member upon opposite sides of the pivot element and having screw-threaded openings, a leaf spring engaging the leaves to swing them inwardly, and adjusting screws mounted within the screwthreaded'openings of the posts and engaging the leaf spring to adjust the tension of the same.

' nel to be arranged beneath the lay and having 7 6. In a picker stick check, a supporting memher to be mounted upon the lay, anupstanding pivot element secured to the supporting member, a pair of leaves having their inner ends pivotally V secured to the pivot element for horizontal swing- .mounted within said screw-threaded openings of the post and engageing the leaf spring to vary the tension of the same.

CLARENCE W. FRANKLIN. JESSE T. COLVARD.

References Cited in theffile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,146,697 Evans July 13, 1915 1,341,394 Stone May 25, 1920 1,633,452 McLemore June 21, 1927 1,707,851 Galle Apr. 2, 1929 2,197,589 Newton Apr. 16, 1940 

